A member of the House of Representatives, Kabiru Mai Palace, has renovated no fewer than 80 cemeteries in Zamfara State as part of his constituency projects, drawing mixed reactions over priorities in a region plagued by insecurity and poverty.
Mai Palace, who represents the Gusau/Tsafe Federal Constituency and chairs the House Committee on Sports, unveiled the cemetery renovation project on Tuesday in what he described as a commitment to dignity in death and religious values.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the lawmaker said the intervention marked his second-year anniversary in the National Assembly, and was inspired by the poor state of burial grounds across communities in the constituency.
“As Muslims, we understand the significance of maintaining our cemeteries. It is our final home, and its condition reflects our reverence for the dead. We noticed that most cemeteries in our communities were in terrible shape, so we had to act,” he said.
Mai Palace disclosed that the renovation covers graveyard fencing, clearing, sanitation, and provision of basic facilities. He also pledged to engage cemetery guards, provide them with tools, and ensure the prompt payment of their allowances.
Aside from the cemetery rehabilitation, the lawmaker also distributed tricycles and motorcycles to some residents of the constituency in an empowerment effort aimed at boosting livelihoods.
While some residents praised the gesture as a sign of moral and religious consciousness, others questioned the prioritisation of cemetery renovation over urgent needs such as healthcare, education, and security.
Zamfara remains one of the most volatile states in northern Nigeria, grappling with violent attacks by bandits and mass displacement of residents.
Efforts to get official figures on the total cost of the project were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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